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Author Topic: QST's "Getting to Know Your Radio" Column  (Read 35709 times)
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #50 on: March 24, 2005, 03:31:34 PM »

It is even worse than that. In the fine state of cuntedickcit you pay taxes on anything in stock including your machines.  There is no motivation to stock anytrhing so we operate on J.I.T. just in time and I add just in time to be late. change a part in a new design or go for a custom part and it is like a fart in church.
I designed a filter around last Thanksgiving with a custom common mode choke and the bean counters are still going crazy 5 months later.
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #51 on: March 24, 2005, 05:28:49 PM »

Quote from: K3MSB
When a product is manufactured, it is designed with a definite life span in mind.  Parts are chosen by the manufacturer so as to guarantee they'll be around during that life span.  This is even more critical for special parts, low volume parts, etc.    If the manufacturer is worth his salt, he'll monitor the updated time (from the parts vendor) when a part goes end of life.  Most vendors will give you a "last buy" option, wherein the manufacturer has sufficient time to buy the special parts (in quantity) prior to their becoming obsolete.  


But what's the point of stocking all those replacement parts when the units are still relatively new and replacement parts are unlikely to be needed.  With most manufacturered items, things start to break down after about 5 years of use.  That's just about the same time frame in which the supply of replacement parts starts to dry up because they have been "discontinued".

A few years ago I had to junk a Japanese-made $750 vented kerosene room heater because an essential $10 part had been discontinued by the manufacturer in Japan, and no replacement could be found anywhere at any price.  The heater was about 10 years old and with suitable replacement parts, could have lasted another 15-20 years.
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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GEORGE/W2AMR
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« Reply #52 on: March 25, 2005, 05:03:53 AM »

Quote from: SidebandPat
Dear High and Mighty AM'ers:  Excuse me, but there were many times that I see AM guys asking questions like: How do I wire an antenna relay to my Johnson Ranger.  How do I load an amplifier to use with my DX-60.  How can I fit an R-390A AM filter into my 75A4.

This is all relative.

There are just as many "dumb-question" uninformed AM'ers as there are those needing assistance on their new radio's.

Time to get real here.

Quack Quack
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W3SLK
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« Reply #53 on: March 25, 2005, 09:13:05 AM »

I have two points here:
 1) With respects to 'SidebandPat's quote:
Quote
Dear High and Mighty AM'ers: Excuse me, but there were many times that I see AM guys asking questions like: How do I wire an antenna relay to my Johnson Ranger. How do I load an amplifier to use with my DX-60. How can I fit an R-390A AM filter into my 75A4.

This is all relative.

There are just as many "dumb-question" uninformed AM'ers as there are those needing assistance on their new radio's.

Time to get real here.

I think these are very good and technical queries. Especially since an R-390's mechanical filter has a slightly different IF then the A4. How many of the new Extra classes know what an IF section IS let alone what it DOES and how it operates.

 2) Has anyone confirmed the fact that was asked at the initiation of this thread, it being the April issue and the ARRghL has put an April's Fool article out every year for as long as I can recall?
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Mike(y)/W3SLK
Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antenna bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback, on timeless wavelength, bearing a gift beyond lights, almost free.... Spirit of Radio/Rush
K1JJ
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« Reply #54 on: March 25, 2005, 11:28:26 AM »

"How do I wire an antenna relay to my Johnson Ranger. How do I load an amplifier to use with my DX-60. How can I fit an R-390A AM filter into my 75A4.  There are just as many "dumb-question" uninformed AM'ers as there are those needing assistance on their new radio's. "

Yes, no doubt these are GOOD questions.

1) The Ranger uses a 110AC keying output. [if I remember correctly]  Hook it to any of the common low voltage DC antenna relays and they will burn up or just buzz at best.

2) As Mike said, the 390 has different IF input/output charactoristics from the 75A4 and requires a different matching network for the filter for optimum performance.

3) Loading a linear amplifier is critical. Load it too lightly or over drive it and the splatter police will smoke your ass...   Cheesy  

Bottom line: No question is too dumb if it helps someone progress to the next level..  Read MY "dumb" JN questions in the last paragraph from April, 1966 below:

Mike asked:
"Has anyone confirmed the fact that was asked at the initiation of this thread, it being the April issue and the ARRghL has put an April's Fool article out every year for as long as I can recall?"

Mike, back in April 1966, QST ran an article about using "invisible paint" for painting towers and antennas. As a 13 year old JN I thought this was the answer to my neighbor/tower problems. I tried to cornvince the OM to buy some and he laughed. I called the local paint store and axed them to order some. The salesman thought I was trying to pull a joke on him... but I was Johnny Novice serious, caw mawn.   :lol:

T
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Use an "AM Courtesy Filter" to limit transmit audio bandwidth  +-4.5 KHz, +-6.0 KHz or +-8.0 KHz when needed.  Easily done in DSP.

Wise Words : "I'm as old as I've ever been... and I'm as young as I'll ever be."

There's nothing like an old dog.
W3SLK
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« Reply #55 on: March 25, 2005, 11:33:32 AM »

As P.T. Barnum once said, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
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Mike(y)/W3SLK
Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antenna bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback, on timeless wavelength, bearing a gift beyond lights, almost free.... Spirit of Radio/Rush
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #56 on: March 25, 2005, 12:15:18 PM »

Actually,  there was an April Fool article in QST this year, in that front section with all the photos, as I recall.

The difference between the R-390A mechanical filters and 75A4 ones is mechanical configuration and the input capacitance required to resonate.  The best solution is to build an adaptor for the filter, and replace the 100pf fixed micas beneath the chassis in the A4 with 350pf mica trimmers.  Some of the earlier 390A's also used fixed  micas, about 300pf (see schematic for exact values). Later ones used variable trimmers.

But that's the kind of question I would like to see more of in QST.

Another good one would be an explanation of how to zero-beat.  With the advent of plastic radios, zero-beating has become a  lost art.  Many plastic-radio AM operators and ex-plasticradio operators with newly acquired vintage equipment don't know how to do it, and sometimes join an AM QSO 2-5 kc/s off frequency.  That IS a waste of spectrum space... and we don't need to give the slupbucketeers more ammunition to use against us.

Another one would demonstrate that the bandwidth of a signal appears across the receiver dial as the sum of the receiver bandwidth and signal bandwidth.  I have had plastic radio operators tell me something was wrong with my signal because my carrier was 4 kc/s wide!  With a typical SSB plastic radio, a 7 kc/s wide AM signal will appear over about 11 kc/s of dial space.  With a good AM filter in line, the signal will cover more like 15 kc/s of dial space.

Yet another one would be to explain how to load up a linear amp for AM operation, and set the audio level while leaving enough headroom in the amplifier output for the positive peaks, and why you can't just tune it up for maximum carrier output and expect to get good AM.

I'm sure the AM community could think of dozens of good questions to be answered.
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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W1DAN
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« Reply #57 on: March 25, 2005, 12:32:35 PM »

Hi All:

some very good comments here.

I feel QST should have the beginners info. Ham radio demographics is becoming less technical, whether we like it or not.

However my real pet peeve is....

I strongly disagree with the ARRL's decision to separate QEX (and I guess the contest journal) from QST. I do not care what the financial situation of the ARRL is. It is not my problem. When I became a Life member, I was joining the organization to receive all of the benifits of the organization's output AND THAT INCLUDES QEX!

But I do not receive it as I would have to PAY EXTRA! While I love the tech articles, I will not subscribe under principle. It is like my town that charges taxes for it's services. And then a couple of years ago they started to charge "pay as you throw" garbage pickup. Gee, I thought I paid taxes for that!

Now go and read your phone bill....

73
Dan
W1DAN



Just put all the info in QST.
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WD8BIL
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« Reply #58 on: March 25, 2005, 12:52:56 PM »

K1JJ wrote:

Quote
Yes, no doubt these are GOOD questions.


But that still doesn't tell me where I can BUY a dipole for 75 meters.
Can I make one at home. How Huh What do I use Huh
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K1JJ
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« Reply #59 on: March 25, 2005, 03:08:19 PM »

Quote from: WD8BIL


Quote
Yes, no doubt these are GOOD questions.


But that still doesn't tell me where I can BUY a dipole for 75 meters.
Can I make one at home. How Huh What do I use Huh

I wish it were that easy. What I mean by that is I wish guys axed those questions right away - after talking about buying one. It would make my job easy.

Back to the 6M local newbie guys.....   About 5 months ago that's all they talked about. Buying a M2 6M5X antenna, Lunar Link commercial amplifiers, buying things as simple as phasing harnesses and Yagi power dividers that you can make yourself outa coax.

At first I got resistance with comments like, "I don't have the time or patience to build stuff"... or  "I'm not a hands on kinda guy"....  I'm happy with what I have now" - but then immediately start talking about BUYING something bigger.  All excuses not to learn something new.

I simply steered them to the local aluminum yard, sent them some Yagi computer designs and answered questions how to fabricate the antennas. Then told them how easy it is to build their own linears. Well, one guy has gutted and stripped three SB-230's and converted them to 6M. A start.  Another is talking of building a big triode for 6M from scratch.

I just listened to them last night and was amazed at how the talk was very technical with a "can-do" attitude.  Next two weekends will see antenna/tower parties where these guys are raising up new Yagis and stacks. Most "buyers" simply need direction to break out of their "buying" ruts.

So, whenever the magic words are uttered, " Can I make one at home. How Huh What do I use ?",  I get excited, like in my QSL below... :lol:   :lol:
T

The HUZ Photoshop strikes again:
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Use an "AM Courtesy Filter" to limit transmit audio bandwidth  +-4.5 KHz, +-6.0 KHz or +-8.0 KHz when needed.  Easily done in DSP.

Wise Words : "I'm as old as I've ever been... and I'm as young as I'll ever be."

There's nothing like an old dog.
Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #60 on: March 25, 2005, 04:19:45 PM »

:lol: .............Massa Vu, ..-,-...,-...-, --.--.LOL........................
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W1GFH
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« Reply #61 on: March 25, 2005, 04:27:01 PM »

Quote from: K1JJ

The HUZ Photoshop strikes again:


LOL!!!!!!

(porno music track) CHICKA-BOW-CHICKA-BOWW-BOWWW!
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Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #62 on: March 25, 2005, 04:52:17 PM »

So Muscular and Verile....LOL........I almost spit my Beer on the keyboard... on this one... Cheesy
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #63 on: March 28, 2005, 08:45:04 AM »

Tom Vu,
Pictures like that could get you mike Jackson status of ham radio.
Hey sonny wanna be a ham?
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K1JJ
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« Reply #64 on: March 28, 2005, 12:20:58 PM »

Quote from: WA1GFZ
Tom Vu,
Pictures like that could get you mike Jackson status of ham radio.
Hey sonny wanna be a ham?



Naw, wrong target audience, Frank. That's Fabio's body HUZ used. All of the [thousands of]  women AMer hams out there are drooling on their keyboards right now, caw mawn.

T
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Use an "AM Courtesy Filter" to limit transmit audio bandwidth  +-4.5 KHz, +-6.0 KHz or +-8.0 KHz when needed.  Easily done in DSP.

Wise Words : "I'm as old as I've ever been... and I'm as young as I'll ever be."

There's nothing like an old dog.
WA1GFZ
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« Reply #65 on: March 28, 2005, 12:32:35 PM »

Gee I wonder where the YL am window is located all I get is the same
ugly mofos like myself.
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #66 on: March 28, 2005, 06:36:23 PM »

Quote from: WD8BIL

But that still doesn't tell me where I can BUY a dipole for 75 meters.
Can I make one at home. How Huh What do I use Huh


I get a chuckle sometimes when I hear guys over the air describe their stations, "...antenna is a HOMEBREW dipole..."
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

- - -
This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
Glenn K2KL
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« Reply #67 on: March 31, 2005, 08:53:39 AM »

Man, if you can't make your own dipole  :?  :?

Store bought dipoles.... a sign of the times!  :oops:  :oops:


Quote from: k4kyv
Quote from: WD8BIL

But that still doesn't tell me where I can BUY a dipole for 75 meters.
Can I make one at home. How Huh What do I use Huh


I get a chuckle sometimes when I hear guys over the air describe their stations, "...antenna is a HOMEBREW dipole..."
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wa2zdy
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« Reply #68 on: April 02, 2005, 12:03:17 PM »

How many of y'all remember when the Ten Tec Century 21 CW only rig was introduced?

I remember the Ten Tec ads in QST and 73 for the rig.  They were basically a tutorial on how to read the dial.  The ads trumpeted how much electricity would be saved by not having to power a digital readout, and literally how to take the bandswitch and add to that the dial reading, right down to the details of counting dial divisions.

I remember thiking then, how far have we come?

Now of course the newbies on the air talk about frequencies: one four six DOT five two.  The decimal point seems to have been lost to history, or maybe I'm just an old fart as I've been accused.
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Jack-KA3ZLR-
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« Reply #69 on: April 02, 2005, 03:11:44 PM »

Great Rig, both versions.

 Never an Old fart Chris, just a More seasoned contributor... Cheesy
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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #70 on: April 02, 2005, 07:15:05 PM »

Quote
Now of course the newbies on the air talk about frequencies: one four six DOT five two.  The decimal point seems to have been lost to history, or maybe I'm just an old fart as I've been accused.


You would be surprised how many high school kids don't know how to read an analog clock.  Some even don't understand when you call 6:35 "twenty-five to seven."  They only know it as "six thirty-five."
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #71 on: April 10, 2005, 09:29:05 AM »

On another bulletin board, the following question was posted by an Extra Class ham:

Quote
Just a question that I have wondered about for years.  Why don't medium wave broadcsters use inverted vees or dipoles instead of vertcals?   Our experience on the ham bands have been that low dipoles are better for close in operation than vertically polarized low angle radiators.  Could it be frequency dependant?
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout.
http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak
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